Wrench



May 23, 1933.v

w. H. APPLEGATE WRENCH Filed Sept. 1'7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l fVZ May 23, 1933. W H; APPLEGATE 1,910,197

WRENCH Filed sept. 17, 1930 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented May 23, 1933 Urrea WRENCH Application led `September 17, 1930. Serial No. 482,436.

VMy invention relates to new and useful improvements in a wrench and has for one of its objects to provide a quick-acting wrench which may be readily moved into engagement with or disengaged from the work.

Another object of the invention is togso `construct the wrench'that it may be held in and op-erated by one hand while adjusting the same in connection with smaller or larger work than that with which it had been just previously used.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unique construction and arrangement fof inner jaw whereby it will be caused to firmly grip the work when the wrench is turned in one direction and released from said work when moved in the opposite direction without changing the adj ust-ment.

A still further object of. my invention is to construct a quick acting device for use distinctly as a pipe or nut wrench.

71th these ends in view, this invention'consists in the details of construction and combination Vof elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those yskilled in theart to ywhich this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings forming a part of vthis application, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a wrench constructed in accordance with my invention and showing an inner and movable jaw having a serrated working surface adapting the wrench particularly for use in connection with pipes.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation or edge view thereof with the handle grip remo-ved.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation or edge view of the same.

Fig. 3a is a side elevation similar to Fig. l on a smaller scale showing a plain inner jaw, the working surface of which is substantially parallel to the working face of the outer or stationary aw 'adapting the wrench for use in connection with nuts or similar irregular shaped objects.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view.

Fig. 5 is an upper end view of theuyoke or innerjaw carrier. 1

Fig. 6 is a klongitudinal sectional view thereof on'the line t3-6 ofFig. 5. Y Y Y Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the inner or 55 movable jaw shown inFigs. l and 4.

Fig. 8 lis a lower or inner end view ofthe inner or movable jaw. i

F ig.f9 is a side elevation of the ratchet rack per se. 60

Fig. l() is a face view thereof.

Fig. 1l is a side elevation of the pawl.

Fig. 12 is an inner end view thereof.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied, 1,5 represents'the outer or station- 35 ary jaw formed with the shank 16 terminating in a. stem 17, the cross sectional area of which is smaller than that of the shank providing a`shoulder18 against which may rest j a ferrule 19 or equivalent, surrounding -or 70 covering the innerend ofv the grip or hand hold 2O which is mounted on the stem and held in place by a suitable fastening 21,'such as a nut, threaded on the terminal of the stem which is provided with threads 22l forsuch 75 purpose.

If found desirable, a( ferrule 23 or-equivalent may be interposed between the fastening means 21 and the outer end of the hand hold orlgrip 20. is@

The working face of the outer orvstationary jaw is serrated, as indicated at`24, and

,i said serration may be formed directly and upon said jaw or upon an insert 25 set'into the jaw from the working face.

` The shank 16 has a longitudinal groove 26 formed in its forward face and runningl from the lower or inner end of said shank to a pointadjacent the stationary jaw l5 anda recess 27 yis formed in the lower part Vof said 90 shank adjacent its inner end from the back forwardly with at least one part of it` passing all the way through as indicated at 28,

leaving a supporting wall 29 to which is fastened one end of a plate spring 30, the opposite or free end of said' spring bearing against the tail 31 of the pawl 32 which is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 33 .within the recess 27 and the nose of said pawl has a number of ratchet teeth Safor registration The said inner jaw carrier or yoke also finchicles a strap 41 which completely encircles the shank 16 and a two-piece strap 42, Vthe parts of which are spaced apart at the back of the wrench shank to permit movement or operation-of the pawl 32.

Within the socket 39 is pivotally mounted an inner jaw/43, Figs. 1, 4 and 7 or an inner jaw 44, Fig. 3a. The inner jaw 43 includes a neck 45 and a head 46 with an incline-d serrated working lface 47, Vthe inclination -being from the forward end of the jaw upwardly and inwardly toward the shank and stationary. jaw .of the wrench and said inner jaw is normally forced away from the wrench shank by a platespring 48 fixed to the shank and engaging a wall of the body of the inner jaw carrier .or yeke within the socket 39.

The jaw 44 also includes a neck -49 and 30head 50, the 4working face of which is pref- K.er'ably:smooth or .plain and substantially parallel with the working face of the outer lor stationary vjaw and like the inner jaw 43 is fpivoted within Vthe socket 39 inthe body -of the inner .jaw carrier -or yoke and may be provided with jthe spring 48 if desirable alithough this is not essential and is preferably eliminated. Either of .these jaws may be used and are Vtherefore interchangeable with each other being only necessary to remove the pivot pin 51 to permit the removal of. one jaw and the substitutionof the other.

In practice, by pressing inward upon the tail end 31 of the pa-wl 32 against theaction of the spring 30, the teeth of said pawl will loe-disengaged from `the ratchet rack bar 36 Y permitting `the inner jawcarrier or yoke with the inner -jawvto slide backvor downward-pro- `viding the wrench is held withthestationary jaw rest above the handle. As lthe inner j aw and component parts reach approximately A.the position desired, the pawl .32 is released and the spring 3() will move it into .engagement withthe ratchet rack bar. The wrench 'mayy thenrbe placed upon the work and .the

:inner jaw .carrier or yoke together with .the inner j aw ,can be moved along the shank A16 by use of .the'operators thumb against the outer or lower end of the inner jaw carrier yuntil the inner jaw engages the work, it being understood, of course, that the outer jaw is already in engagement with the work. Thereafter, the :wrench may be used inthe usual way and as soon as the operations are completed, the pawl is again disengaged from the ratchet rack bar which will release the inner jaw, the same either dropping back by gravity or the operator holding the inner jaw in engagement with the work and moving the outer jaw away.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the eXact details of construction as here shown, as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claimwithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

'Having thus fully. described .my invention, what I claim as new and useful is VIn a wrench, the combination of an outer j aw, a shank formed with said jaw and having a longitudinal groove in its forward face and also provided witha recess 1n the back adjacent the end opposite said j aw, said recess 5having a portion extending through the shank .is nearest Athe outer jaw, a strap at the socketed end of said inner jaw carrier completely surrounding the shank, a two piece strap at the opposite endof said inner jaw carrier and partially surrounding the shank with the adjacent ends of the two piecesspaced apart at -the back of the shank to :permit .movement of said two piece strap past the projecting tail ofthe pawl, said straps -slidably mounting said inner .jaw carrier on the shank, a

separateratchet rack bar inserted in thev car- -rier prior to .the .latter being placed upon Vthe shank, the .ends of said rack bar engaging theends of thecarrier to prevent longitudinal movement of said bar relative to the `carrier and said bar beinghoused within the groove-;

in the shank after the carrier has been placed on said shank, and a separate inner aw provided with a neck which is pivoted Within the socket :of then.arrier, said inner jaw being spring actuated in one direction.

In testimony whereof, .I have hereunto aiiixed my signature:

WILLIAM H, APPLEGATE.' 

